Tool for assembling springs



C. W. CRANNELL Dec. 22, 1925'.

TOOL FOR ASSEMBLING SPRINGS Filed Jan. 5. 1925 Patented Dec. 22, E925.

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E STTEST PATET CHARLES W. CRANNELL, OF CHAPPELL, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BENJAMIN 3'. CONNOR, OF CHAPIPELL, NEBRASKA.

TOOL FOR ASsEMBLING SPRINGS.

Application filed January 5, 1925.

To all whom it may concem:

lie it known that i, Crrnamas W CRAN- Nnm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shappell, in the county of Deuel and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful ln'iprovements for lools for Assembling Spdngs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement for a tool for assembling springs, and pertains more particularly to a device for taking down and assembling truck, automobile and other springs.

Heretofore the assembling or taking apart for repair of springs has been a tedious and awkward undertaking, as there is no tool, so far as is known, which is designed to do this kind of work and is suitable for use as a part of the equipment of garages, blacksmith shops, or the like.

It has generally been the practice to use thumb clamps and a vice which results in an untold amount of labor and trouble, because of the bolts in the spring turning and thethumb clamps working loose and permitting the spring leaves to fly all over the workshop.

There are many truck springs that weigh in the neighborhood of one hundred pounds each and with the tools heretofore in use, it has been a difficult undertaking to get them together or apart. The result has been that with the tools heretofore known it has proven more costly to repair springs than to buy new springs from the factory and replace those broken.

By the use of the present invention, the trouble and hardship in working 011 springs is done away with, and springs can be assembled and taken apart by one person with the use of this improved device.

The object of this invention is to provich a tool for assembling and taki'ig apart springs,'which is of a construction to be easily and elliciently operated by one person.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tool of the character described, which provides means for holding the heads of the bolts in the springs from rotating.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool for working on springs which is highly eflicient in operation, cheap of manu- Serial No. 629.

facture and simple of construction and is capable of being sold at a price which would permit of its being an equipment of garages, blacksmith shops or the like.

Other objects, novel features of construction and improved results of the invention will appear in the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention for working on a vehicle spring.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view through the handle nut and rocker.

In the broad terms of description, the device, as shown in the drawings, comprises an anvil A, vehicle springs 13, a clamp-base C, a clamp-base swivel D, the clamp-base arms E, the clamp F, the handle nuts G, and the rockers H.

Although the invention is shown and described as being supported upon aud fastened to an anvil, it will be readily understood that the method of fastening the device can be utilized in attaching the same to a workbench, plank, or any other suitable place.

Describing the embodiment of ihe invention shown in the drawings more specifically, it will be seen that the base 0 is provided with a main base or working face 5, and that this portion of the base is supported above the anvil by reason of the base at one end having its end turned down at right angles as at 6, while its opposite end is bent downwardly at 7 to terminate in an outwardly extending portion 8, which I have termed the heel. The base is fastened to the anvil by means of a square pin D, which is inserted through the squared opening usually found in anvils. The lower end of the pin is provided with a slot which receives a wedge 9, by means of which the base is securely fastened to the anvil. To permit of adjustment of the base in respect to the pin, the heel of the base is provided with a slot 10, through which the pin passes and to afford a greater adjustment of the base, the upper end of the pin is provided with an enlarged head 11 and washer 12, to permit the base to swivel or turn in respect to the pin, by slightly loosening the wedge 9.

The arms E are circular and threaded as receive the bolt 20, the end of which is rough-; By reason of the base being elevated above the anvil, the head ened or notched as at 21.

of the bolt is easilyaccessible by a wrench so that its-roughened end 21 can be tightened to engagement with the head 22 of the center bolt 23 of the spring B.

The clamp F, which may be hereinafter referred to, as a tie-bar, is cast in one piece to provide a circular member 24, having extending from its opposite sides the slotted or forked arms 25. These arms extend downwardly from the ring at a slight angle.

and are provided in their upper faces with a series of roeves or notches 26.

- The han le nuts G are composed of a threaded nutted portions 27, which are carried upon the threaded ends of the base arms E. These nuts are provided with upward- 1y extending handles 28, which afford convenient operation and at the same time provide .a leverage whereby these nuts can be screwed down very tightly.-

The rockers H are cup-shaped washers having'a base 29, provided with a circular opening 30, which is greater in dlameterj than the base arms E, so that these rockers loosely'surroundthe arms; The lower face ofeach rocker is provided at opposite sides of the opening with rounded ribs or lugs 31, which are adapted to engage the grooves 26 in the upper'face 'of'the forked arms of the clamp. Extending upwardly from the base which of the rockers are side walls or-portions 32', :amllel the outer surfaceof the nuts 27. Clhese side walls screw-threadedly carry the; bolts 33, the ends 34: of which extend into circumferential grooves 35, provided in theouter faces of the nuts 2?,

struction, it will be seen that thenutscan be rotated. without imparting rotation to the rockers, and that any upward or downward movement of the nuts will likewise impart a similar motion to the rockers.

Attention isdirected to the fact, as clear V ly appears in Fig. 2 of the drawing,"that the working face 5 of the base is slightly concaved as appears at36 to fit the contour of the spring B. It will also be seen clearly in this figure of the drawing that the inner upper-edge of the ring portion of the clamp F is rounded, as at 37, and that the construction of the clamp is such thatthe nut/38 of the center bolt of the spring can be readily loosenedby-a wrench in the hands of an operator.

' apart.

' down.

By this con-;

'Having described the component parts of the invention, a short description mute given of its operation.

tightly fastened through the medium of the wedge; The spring B is then placed upon the working face of the clamp base. with the head of the center bolt of the spring positioned in the opening in the working The clamp F or tie face of the clampbase. bar is then placed in positionand the handle nuts tightened down. The result is that the spring is tightly clamped betweenthe working face of the base and the tie-bar.

The setsorew 20 is then tightened against the head of the center spring bolt to prevent its rotation. It remains'only for the oper-'.

ator to insert a wrench in the ring of the clamp F and loosen'the center spring bolt nut 38 to take the leaves of the spring" No difficulty is encountered in'loosening the spring clips .40.

To assemble the spring a center bolt is inserted through a few of the spring leaves,

the center bolt head being placed on the end of the 'setscrew. Additional leaves are then added, keeping thecenter holes of the leaves well aligned with the bolt until all of the leaves are in a straight posit-ion.w The tiebar is then placed over the topmost sleeve of the spring and the handle nuts tightened The leaves are aligned as the tiebar is tightened. The adjustment of the center bolt will be readily understood when it is remembered that there is considerable space between thespring leaves when loose, due to the .ga-ther of the leaves. 7

It willv be seen that 'it only remains for the workmanto tighten the center bolt nut to complete the assembling of thespring. 1

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a device for working upon springs,:vvhich is very simple in construc-' by one workman.

1 Because of the pivotal connection of the bZL SG-HIHIS, and the slot in the clamp-base,

these arms can be manipulated to the proper position for workon springs of "different sizes. The tie-bar is-also adaptable for use on springs of different sizes,'because of the projecting forked arms which are at,

an angle to the clamp-ringand because the rockers can engage either of the several grooves in the arms. By reaso'nof this 'construction, the rockers are conformable to any degree of angle of strainon the base,- arius or rods E. a i

It will be readily understood that because of the construction heretofore described,

the handle nuts can be rotated to loosen or tighten suificiently to change the tension on the tie-bar without causing disengagement of the rockers with the grooves in the tiebar or clamp-arms.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. In a device of the character described, a base, a movable clamping ring above said base, and means to lock said clamping ring in clamped position upon the work, whereby said work is accessible through said clamping ring.

2. In a device of the character described, a base, a movable clamping member above said base provided with an openin and means for engaging said clamp to lock the same in clamped position, whereby the work clamped is accessible through said clamp opening.

3. In a. device of the character described, a base provided with upwardly extending arms, a clamping ring movable above said base, and means carried by said arms for locking the clamp in clamping position upon the work, whereby the work is accessible through said ring opening.

4. A device of the character described, a base provided with upwardly extending pivotally mounted arms, and a ring clamp movable above said base and having ex tending portions adapted for engagement with looking members carried by said arms, whereby said ring is locked in clamped position upon the work and the work is ac cessible through said ring opening.

5. I11 a device of the character described, a base adapted for horizontal pivotal mounting and provided with pivotally mounted upwardly extending arms carrying locking members, a clamp adapted for movement in respect to said base, and said clamp having outwardly extending portions adapted to be engaged by said locking members.

6. In a device of the character described, a base, a clamp movable above said base, said clamp comprising a ring having outwardly extending arms, and locking members adapted for engagement with said clamping arms for locking the ring in clamped position, whereby the work clamped is accessible through said clampmg ring.

7 In a device of the character described, a base, a clamp movable above said base, said clamp comprising a ring provided with outwardly extending arms at its opposite sides, said arms provided with a plurality of. depressions, and locking members having e. tending portions adapted for engagement with depressions of the clamp arms for locking the ring in clamped position, whereby the work clamped is accessible through said clamping rin 8. In a device of the character described, a base provided with upwardly extending arms, a clamp movable above said base. the clamp comprising a ing provided with out wardly extending separated arms at its opposite sides, said arms adapted to receive the upwardly extending base arms, and locking members carried by said base arms and adapted for engagement with the clamp arms for locking the ring in clamped position, whereby the work clamped accessible through said clamping ring.

9. A device of the character described, a base, a clamp movable above said. base, said clamp comprising a ring provided at its opposite sides with outwardly extending arms, the base provided with a centrally located opening carrying a bolt adapted for engagement with the work on said base, and locking means adapted for engagement with the outwardly extending clamp arms for locking the ring in clamped position upon the work, whereby the work clamped is accessible through said clamping ring.

10. In a device of the character described, a base having a centrally raised portion adapted to receive the article to be worked upon, upwardly extending arms pivotally mounted on said base, a clamp comprising a ring having outwardly extending arms adapted to receive the upwardly extending base arms, a bolt rotatably mounted in said base and adapted for engagement with the work, and locking means carried by said base arms and adapted for engagement with the outwardly extending clamp arms for locking the ring against the work, whereby the work clamped is accessible through said clamping ring.

11. In a device of the character described, a base provided with pivotally mounted upwardly extending arms, a clamp movable above said base and comprising a ring having outwardly extending arms adapted to receive the upwardly extending arms of the base, means carried by said base arms adapted for engagement with the clamp arms for locking the ring in clamped position, and movable means centrally located in the base for engaging the article being worked upon, whereby the work clamped is accessible through said clamping ring.

12. A tool for working upon springs or the like, comprising a base, a clamp comprising a ring movably mounted above said base to clamp the spring upon the base, means for locking the ring in clamped position, movable means in the base for en gaging the heads of the spring bolts, said ring providing an opening in the clamp, whereby the nuts of the spring bolts are accessible through the clamping ring.

13. In a device of the character described, a base provided with pivotally mounted upwardly extending arms, a clamp movable above said "beseend 'eom'pi'ising a ring having outwardly extending arms adapted to receive the upwardly extend-ing'ar ms of -the "base, said clamp erms'eXtendln'g-at a clown- ;wm cl angle from the clamp Ting, and finest-ms earned by said base arms adapted for engagement- With the clamp "arms, whereby the rin can' be looked in clam ed ositio'n' irrepivotally mounted upwardly arms, a clamp movable above stud base :and

spective of the angle of tension "on the looking means, whereby the ork clamped is accessible through said clampingrin I 14. A tool for Working upon springs or the like; comprising 'afbas'e pnwicled with extendmg loekingni'eans carried by the base arm-s having extending portions adaptel for enigagemeeaisa ment Witlrthe' clepress'ronsof the-clamp arms, whereby the ring ean be looked in. clamped position irrespective of the angle oftension upon the lockingmeane 01' base arms, whereby the work'elamped iswaeeessi'ble through said cllampi'ngrringw 7 v V 15. A tool for Working upon springsnr the like, comprising a base provicled' w'lth upwardly exteneling piveta'lly mounted arms, a clam p comprising a i'rinag havingour; wardly egitencllng nrms mbva'ble above 'saicl' base to clamp the spring upon the same a rotatably mounfed member in said base, adapted, for engagement with gthe Work, and lockingmeans'carried by the base arms and adapted l'or' engagement with b-the 'elmnp arms for-locking the ring in clamped :p0'-' sition, whereby the work clamped iseeeessible Through said elan'ipingring. 7 V In testimony whereof I hereunto 'afilx irny signature. I

CHARLES 3N. GRANNELL 

